Tag Archives: compassion

By Produnis (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)%5D, via Wikimedia CommonsIf you are celebrating this Christmas time, and why shouldn’t you?!, please spare a thought for those who aren’t or can’t…

for the person visibly struggling, and the one sat quietly in the corner;
for the one trying to make the best of it, and the one trying to pretend it isn’t happening;
for those whose pain and struggle we know of, and those who we have no idea of the burdens they carry;
for those who wish today was different and those for whom every day is the same – and not in a good way;
for those who don’t have food to eat, a roof over their head and don’t have the luxury of ‘being ready for Christmas’;
for those who have no one to buy gifts for, and those who have nothing to spare on such luxuries.

for the mourning, wishing that person was here;
for those with no answers, wondering when, or if, they will ever know;
for the scarred, and the scared, for whom today is just another day of fear;
for those for whom a change of routine is confusing and frightening;
for those who can see someone they love slipping from them;
for the chronically ill, for whom today is just another day of dealing with symptoms and managing treatment;
for those for whom today is just another day of work

for those who so want today to be different, and know it isn’t;
for those who want to join in, and can’t;
for those who wish they were somewhere else, and aren’t

And the food and the decorations and the celebrations make no difference, for today is just another day of pain, hurt, dealing with life…

Think of them and if there is anything you can do to make this Christmas different, or just hold them and remember not everyone is celebrating

A Woman’s Faith

24 Jesus left and went to the region near the city of Tyre, where he stayed in someone’s home. He did not want people to know he was there, but they found out anyway. 25 A woman whose daughter had an evil spirit in her heard where Jesus was. And right away she came and knelt down at his feet. 26 The woman was Greek and had been born in the part of Syria known as Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to force the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said, “The children must first be fed! It isn’t right to take away their food and feed it to dogs.”

28 The woman replied, “Lord, even dogs eat the crumbs that children drop from the table.”

29 Jesus answered, “That’s true! You may go now. The demon has left your daughter.” 30 When the woman got back home, she found her child lying on the bed. The demon had gone.

Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Deaf and Could Hardly Talk

31 Jesus left the region around Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward Lake Galilee. He went through the land near the ten cities known as Decapolis.32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. They begged Jesus just to touch him.

33 After Jesus had taken him aside from the crowd, he stuck his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and put it on the man’s tongue. 34 Jesus looked up toward heaven, and with a groan he said, “Effatha!”[c] which means “Open up!” 35 At once the man could hear, and he had no more trouble talking clearly.

36 Jesus told the people not to say anything about what he had done. But the more he told them, the more they talked about it. 37 They were completely amazed and said, “Everything he does is good! He even heals people who cannot hear or talk.”

The Final Judgment

31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32 The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.35 When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36 and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.”

37 Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38 When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear39 or visit you while you were sick or in jail?”

40 The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”

41 Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink.43 I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.”

44 Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?”

45 The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.”

46 Then Jesus said, “Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.”

It wasn’t me,
I didn’t do anything much,
just what anyone would do,
just caring for my neighbour,
the starnger,
the outcast.
Making sure they were
fed,
watered,
welcomed,
clothed,
cared for
and knew they were loved.

I don’t deserve any praise
or special treatment.

It wasn’t me.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
I have my own concerns
to worry about and care for.

I didn’t even see you Lord,
you know I would have stopped if I did.

And there are so many needs,
how would I know where to start?
What do do
How to make a difference?

There are so many others with more time and resources.

It isn’t my responsibility.

(And besides which,
I’m busy doing “church work”)

And Jesus said,

Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me

And Jesus said,

Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me

Lord,
forgive me when I get caught up
in myself
and my own issues;
when I miss the need all around me,
or feel overwhelmed
or impotent
in the face of it.

Help me
to see you
in the face of every person.
May that inform
how I respond
and react.